Well after 18 months of near flawless operation my 530 died a painful death last Sunday night, during the NASCAR race! After 45 minutes on the phone with a very helpful CSR it was determined my unit was in need of replacement. We discussed the differences between new and referb, and I opted for the referb but he noted on my account that should I change my mind for any reason, to call and they will send out a new one. I received my replacement Wednesday but have yet to test it, working too much! BTW they sent me it fully free of charge, not even the shipping!

Why did you pick the refurb?

In talking with the CSR, he indicated that the referbs usually have newer parts installed replacing the faulty parts, he gained my trust. He seemed very knowledgable, and I talked with him at length and we even discussed this site. Like I said though, any problems and it's going back!

I am curious as to what people do with the non working 530's when they get replaced. Do you have to ship it back to Starchoice or do you junk them?

You ship it back to *C. If you don't they charge you for it.

That makes sense. I asked because lately I've noticed non working 530's for sale on e-bay. I'm not sure why since they can be replaced by Starchoice. It must be for some other reason.

About 2 months ago my 1st 530 finally packed it in, they sent me a refurb unit (they didn't offer a new one). That unit lasted 4 weeks before it wouldn't even change channels. For the 3rd unit they immediately said they would send a new unit, which has worked perfectly... still keeping my fingers crossed.

Well I wasn't exactly offered a new one to begin with. The CSR said I would be sent a new one and I asked "new or referb?" and that's how the topic came up. He told me that people are generally sent a referb to start, but since I asked he would send me a new one if I wanted it. We then had the discussion about what I wanted.

So my replacement has been up and running for the better part of a week and so far so good. I have not really put it through the paces though, I don't record much in the off season, but what I have recorded worked without any problems!

Which code did your replacement come with, and how long did it take to update if it did? I couldn't believe it when they told me it could be up to 2 weeks to get CC.

I know it was psoted somewhere above that we should expect new code by Easter. That was then revised to say by mid may. I think it was ARR but I could be mistaken. When is the new code coming?? I would like that new searchable guide!

While you will have to get new code in order to enable the 8PSK tuner for the revised HD lineup, searchable guide is still some ways away.
On the roadmap, just a ways down, that's all.

As for when, who knows.
They delayed their 8SPK rollout, maybe to tweak some DSR5XX code.
When has it ever been when promised?

While speeking to a CSR today I asked about the new download and when it would be released. She told me to start turning of my receiver at nights starting tonight as it will start being sent out in the next couple of weeks. She said that they are not setting a date but Motorola told them to start advising there customers to start turning receivers of at night.

Wade
ARR - Here is one post.

The way their dragging it out, my postulated D0h release is more likely to be D4 or later.

Aren't they also re-doing the complete channel lineup?
Around the end of the first week of April?

I know they never went below channel 200 due to the "Cable Buddy" DSR470 product, buts it's probably a good time for us to get used to a new lineup if all the locals will be going HD over the next few years, or maybe to make way for the OTA tuners, they need to re-jig the maps.
another one

I was on with a CSR for about 20 minutes last night after my 530 kept freezing. Criminal Minds had 5 broken recordings:eek: Seeing I had called in a few times before about the 530, it didn't take a whole lot of convincing to get a new unit sent out. At first the gal said I would need to pay the $199 seeing my unit was 2 years old. I quickly brought up the Jim C. warranty on the July 18th. CC code and after 1 minute on hold, she asked where I had got that from. I directed her to here and mentioned all the others getting new 530's. A minute later she said a new unit would arrive in 7-10 business day:D Thanks Digital Home Canada:cool: While she was processing my 530 we chatted about the possiblility of a new code. She said that the latest version was still being tested and she was hopeful of a May download. She also told me that she has had a lot of conversations with Motorola techs and that each new code has a ripple effect where it will fix 3 problems, but create 3 new problems at the same time. Hopefully this new code helps us all and a big thanks to this forum and it's members!
another mention of May

Hi everyone. You will all be happy to know there will be a new Firmware version downloading into the DSR505 & DVR530 some time by the end of this month! :D Receivers will be loaded over a period of a week with the new 8PSK update in time before the launch of the 3 new French HD channels. The rest of the HD channels will become 8PSK some time in the month of August. So anyone with a DSR201 or DSR500 will be called some time only once by an outbound team about it. You will only have the one change to talk with the agent. No second chance. Trust me, take the offer.
At the same time the new Firmware arrives other bugs with these receivers will be addressed. Will have increased stability of course amongst other new things. Take this info only as a rumor as nothing has been confirmed. Don't bother calling the Call Center about this either, most of the agents don't know anything about the new version yet.
Channels numbers will also be redone. Yes, StarChoice channels will no longer all be above 200. That means we have to get used to the channel numbers all over again. :confused: All HD channels: 2-89, all Music channels 90-134, Radio 135-199. Everything else will stay as is.
And interactive TV some time soon. Its already been advertised where you can check the local weather report, Horoscope, games, 1week guide with search, more... Kinda like Bell ExpressVu's crap. Hence the new DSR317 & 207.
Okay - last one! I am tired of looking :)

I just want to know when it is coming! And what is 8spk?

Which code did your replacement come with, and how long did it take to update if it did? I couldn't believe it when they told me it could be up to 2 weeks to get CC
It came with CC, no update needed.

While talking with the CSR, waiting for the numorous resets, we discussed the new code. He said they have been testing some units in the office and it is out to bata testing but is about 2 weeks behind.

It will be here when it needs to be here. That's it.
I don't work there anymore and have no visibility or influence as I once did.

I DO agree that it seems to be taking longer than expected/promised.

There are MANY factors that could cause this.
Releasing code is a delicate balancing act between delivering new features and bug fixes while mitigating any NEW bugs.

MY view was always to deliver incremental improvements, as long as the benefits outweighed anything bad, then I'd move forward. That's how we got to where we are today after a few years.

THEIR goal 'may' be to deliver PERFECTION after *C and Moto took the royal beating they did over the product.
Admirable, yes, but practical, no.
In addition Moto's senior mgmt took over the reins as to when code was good enough and it must not be 'good enough' to meet the standard they expect in order to preserve their good name.

As for 8PSK, it is a modulation technique used in satellite communications.
You currently receive signals in QPSK.
PSK means Phase Shift Keying and loosely resemble FM modulation.
The "Q" stand for Quadrature and "8" is well "8".
QPSK uses 2 bits per symbol while 8PSK uses 3 bits per symbol.
The net result is an apparent 50% improvement in capacity.
This translates into being able to easily deliver 3 HiDef signals per transponder over the current 2.

The tuners in DSR505/530 ARE both QPSK/8PSK, but the 8PSK is NOT enabled and requires a 1 bit change in the code to enable it.
Hence before the HD 8PSK migration, you WILL require new code.

Is the holdup in new code for consumers OR migrating ALL the cable headends to new receivers that use the same signals?
Officially, it's the latter.

ARR - please don't get offended and Kranky! :) I was just curious whern a new code would be released. I showed the references because you asked where I heard that. That is the only reason I did. I for one, appreciate all your quality postings and I am nit/was not cutting you down. I have a refurb unit, and just like my other one, I get problems when I don't want them. I would also like to have a guide like the one that I had on my Persona Cable PVR.

By the way - I went through 8 Motorola Cable PVR's in the course of a year; and no it wasn't me; others had just as many problems. I like *C and would like to stay.

It was meant to illustrate just how things worked around their so that our expectations wouldn't be dashed on a weekly basis.

My DCT6412 has been OK, but I'm aware of the f/w bugs.
I know earlier models had some issues.

I guess I came off a little rough because their is just so much false info that comes from agents and posters and unless your the guy that pulls the trigger, it's all speculation at best.
At least now the unit runs well enough that I don't care anymore when it comes.
Sure, I'n very anxious to see the result of my efforts on screen, but not much I can do to help it along now.

Glad you like *c, of my 5 PVR's here, I like the 530 best believe it or not.